Rod and wire handling mechanism



Feb. 23, 1937. F A, WESTPHAL 2,071,715

l ROD AND WIRE HANDLING MEGHAN`ISM Filed March 1, 1955 1 I| f l! 14H: l

M 4 Lil l UTI! 1w bww-,l

- a B Y v ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 ROD WIRE HANDLING MECHANISIW` Frederick A. Westphal, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Sheilield' Steel Corporation,

Kansas City,

Mo., a corporation of Delaware l Application March 1, 1935, Serial No. 8,894 11 Claims. (Cl. 242-128) This invention relates to rod and wire handling mechanism for transporting coiled bundles of rods or wire to a `wire-working machine and for holding the bundles while a rod or wire is pulled therefrom in response to the demands of the machine, and has for its principal object to provide an apparatus of this character with mechanism to insure withdrawal of the convolutions in single consecutive order.

In accomplishing this and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of construction, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

l5 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rod and wire handling apparatus embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hair pin hook for impalingly supporting the coiled bundles of rods or wire and equipped with my improved means for regulating withdrawal of the convolutions of rods or wire and showing one of the convolutions about to be released from the hook.

Fig. 3 is a similar view after the convolution has been withdrawn and the suceeding convolution is being separated from the remainingl convolutions preparatory to withdrawal from the hook. e

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the release and separating members for controlling withdrawal of the convolutions.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a tram rail on which is mounted a carriage 2 suspending a hair pin hook 3 for transporting coiled bundles 'of rods or wire 4 to a wire working machine, for example, a wire drawing apparatus 5.

The hair pin hook 3 is of conventional design and includes upper and lower horizontal arms 6 M) and 1 of I beam construction and connected at their rear ends by a vertical bar portion 8. The upper arm 6 is suspended from the carriage 3 which includes hangers 9 and III having wheeled support on the tram rail I. The lower arm pro- 45 vides a support for the bundles of rods or wire -4 which are sleeved or impaled thereon over the free end II of the arm so that the lower portions I3 of the bundles hang free ofthe support and the convolutions I3 thereof are free to be with- 10- drawn off theend II in vresponse to demand of the wire drawing machine.

The wire drawing machine includes a drawing bench I4 supporting a reducing die I5 and a rotating block or drum I6 which draws the rod or wire strand I1 through the die and which winds the reduced wire strand I8 into a, coiledbundle I9. The rod or wire strand upon being led from the hook is passed through a guide and safety ring 2li carried on the end of an arm 2| for actuating a switch mechanism or the like (not 5 shown) to shut down operation of the wire drawing machine in case the rod or wire should become entangled.

When the rod or wireis being pulled oi the bundles 4, the convolutions I3 would ordinarily 10 strip oil the end II of the arm 1 in a state of entanglement, and means is, therefore, provided to retain the convolutions on the arm and insure their orderly withdrawal in lsingle consecutive order according to demand of the wire .working l5 machine as now to be described.

22 designates a primary clicker including a substantially U shaped fork 23 provided with downwardly curved tines 24 and 25 engaging the side edges 26 and 21 of the arm. and 25 slightly converge in the direction of the connecting portion 28 of the fork so that they have support on the arm and to limit the extent of overlap of the ends of thetines. The fork is carried at the lower endl of an inclined 25 and slightly oifset shank 29 which has its upper end attached to a yoke-shaped clip 30 that is pivoted to the' upper arm by means of a cross pin 3l.

In order to accommodate the clip, the lower flange of the upper arm is cut away as at 32 so 30 that the ears 33 and 34' of the clip straddle the web 35 of the arm.

To facilitate construction ofthe clicker, the shank 29, clip 30 and fork 23 are preferably separate parts formed of bar stock shaped to form 35 the respective parts and welded together as shown at 36 and 31. The pivot `3I of the clip is located in such spaced relation with the front ends of the hook arms that the fork portion thereof engages the lower arm at a point spaced rearwardly 40 from the end thereof to yform a supporting surface 38 for a purpose later described.'

The clicker 22 is thus supported in engagement with the arm 1 so that it forms a stop to detain withdrawal of the convolutions, but is adapted to raise under pull of the rod or wire strand to pass the convolutions I3 thereunder; however, when the fork 23 is raised by pull of one of the convolutions I3, the succeeding convolution is likely to slip thereunder and be pulledotf the end of the arm before-the clicker can again drop into stopping engagement.

Therefore, in order to guard against withdrawal of the second coil or convolution I3 from the sup-l portingfend of the arm, I provide a secondary The tines 24 20 clicker 39 which has gravity bearing on the surface 36 to form a stop to prevent complete withdrawal of the second convolution but allow removal of the rst convolution. The secondary clicker includes a spade shaped plate 40 having a straight lower edge 4I bearing against the arm at a point spaced from the bearing point of the fork 23 of the primary clicker and which has a rod shaped shank 42 pivoted to a yoke shaped clip 43 carried on the shank of the primary clicker. The clip 43 is welded to the shank and has forwardly projecting ears 44 and 45 for engaging the sides of an eye 46 that isformed on the end of the rod shaped shank 42, the shank being pivoted on a pin 41 extending through the ears and through the eye as shown in Fig. 4. The shank 42 is preferably of su'lcient length so that the secondary clicker is supported at a slightly greater incline than the primary clicker 22.

The primary and secondary clickers are thus connected with each other and are mounted on the arms of the hook as a single unit.

'Ihe clicker units thus described may be constructed of diierent weights and may be interchangeable with each other depending upon the size of the rods or wire and the speed at which the convolutions are withdrawn by the wire working machine.

In loading the hook, the 'primary and secondary clickers are raised to permit passage of lthe bundles of rods or wire 4 over the arm 1, Aor a clicker unit of proper weight may be attached subsequently to the hook preparatory to drawing wire.4

After the bundles 4 are in place, the clickers 22 and 39 are dropped to position for support on the lower arm 1 of the hook. The hook is then moved along the tram rail I to carry the bundles of rods or wire into operative relation with `the wire Working machine 5.

After arriving at the machine, the rod orrwire 'strand I1 is threaded through the eye of the guide and safety ring 20, through the reducing die I 5 and engaged with the rotary block or drum I6 of the wire drawing machine.

As the block I6 is rotated to draw the rod or Wire through the die I5, the rod or wire is pulled from the bundle in such a manner that the con'- volutions move over the upper face of the arm into engagement with the fork 23 and primary clicker bar 22. As the wire tightens, the first coil will engage the tine '25 and raise the clicker bar from engagement with the arm to permit the rod or wire to pass thereunder. Immediately upon passing of the rocLor wire, the clicker bar will return to its normal position with the convolution extending across the arm between the tines 24 and 25 of the fork. Continued movement of the strand will then bring the coil into engagement with the other tine 24 to again raise the clicker bar upon its pivot to allow complete passage of a convolution.

Due to the springy nature of the rods or wire, it sometimes happens that two or more convolutions escape past the primary clicker bar while the .first convolution is being moved thereunder. However, the secondary clicker bar 39 retains its engagement with the upper face of the arm to prevent disarrangement of the convolutions I3 from the supporting surface 38 and the extra coils will then be entrapped between the primary and secondary clicker bars.

Upon continued pull of the wire strand, the first circumvolution will be caused to move under the lower edge 4I of the secondary clicker bar which pivots upwardly under pull of the drum I6 to permit passage of the convolution from the free end of the arm.

Immediately upon passage of the convolution, the secondary clicker bar 39 will again drop into position to detain any succeeding convolution that may have passed the primary clicker 22. After the rst convolution has been drawn into the wire working machine, a second convolution will follow in a similar manner and so on in single consecutive order. In case that two of the convolutions should pass the primary clicker bar, it is very doubtful that both of them will be pulled from under the secondary clicker bar.

With the construction thus described, I am enabled to provide the precaution that not more than one convolution will be removed from the hook upon withdrawal of any one single coil.

From the foregoing, it is apparent thatI have provided a clicker mechanism which insures withdrawal of the convolutions in single consecutive order and thereby prevents entanglement of the convolutions.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, means for suspending a coiled bundle of rods of wire, and primary and secondary clicker members carried by said suspending means and cooperating with said' suspending means to regulate successive withdrawal of convolutions from said bundle from off said suspending means, one of said clicker members having double contact with the suspending means to permit alternate engagement thereof with said convolutions during withdrawal of said convolutions from the bundle.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, means for suspending a coiled bundle of rods or wire, primary and secondary clicker members having relatively eccentric mounting to permit diierential pivotal movement of said members to and from bearing contact with the suspending `means for retarding withdrawal of successive convolutions of the rods or wire from said suspending means and for regulating successive withdrawal` of convolutions from said bundle from off said suspending means.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, means for suspending a coiled bundle of rods or wire, a clicker member mounted on the 'suspending means for controlling withdrawal of convolutions from said bundle, and other means carried byv and bearing upon the suspending means for selectively detaining convolutions passing said clicker member, said other means being yieldable to pass the detained convolutions between the same and said suspending means.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a hook including an upper arm and a lower arm for impaling a coiled bundle of rods or wire, a primary clicker pivoted to the upper arm and having a fork engaging the lower arm to yieldingly retain convolutions drawn from said coil on the lower arm, and a secondary clicker for controlling withdrawal of convolutions passing the primary clicker.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a hair pin hook having an upper arm anda lower arm for impaling a coiled bundle of rods or wire, a primary clicker pivoted to the upper arm and having a fork engaging the lower arm to yieldingly retain convolutions drawn from said coil on the lower arm, and a secondary ing a plate portion bearing on said lower arm for controlling Withdrawal of convolutions passing the primary clicker. I

6. In a carrier of the character described, a hair pin hook having an upper arm and a lower arm for impaling a`coiled bundle of rods or wire, a primary clicker having a shank pivotally connected with the upper arm and provided with a fork having tines engaging side edges of the lower arm to control movement of convolutions along said arm and yieldable for passage under the tines, and a secondary clicker having a shank pivoted to the i'lrst named shank and provided with a plate member having bearing contact on said lower arm for controlling withdrawal of convolutions passing the tines of the primary clicker.

'7. In an apparatus of the character described,

a travelling carrier including a. hair pin hookhaving an upper arm suspended from said carrier and a lower arm for impaling a coiled bundle of rods or wire, a primary clicker pivoted to the upper arm and having a fork engaging the lower arm to yieldingly retain convolutions drawn from said coil on the lower arm, and a secondary `clicker pivoted to the primary clicker for controlling withdrawal of convolutions passing the primary clicker. i

8, In an apparatus of the character described,

a travelling carrier including a hair pin hook having an upper arm suspended from said car.-

rier and a lower arm for impaling a coiled bundle of rods or wire, a primary clicker pivoted to the upper arm and having a fork engaging the lower arm to yieldingly retain convolutions drawn from said coil on the arm, and a secondary clicker pivoted to the primary clicker and having a plate portion bearing on said lower arm ior controlling withdrawal ofconvolutions passing the primary clicker.

9. In combination with a travelling carrier including a hair pin hook having an upper arm suspended from the carrier and a lower arm for impaling a coiled bundle of rods or wire, a primary clicker having a shank pivotally connected with the upper arm and provided with a fork having tines engaging side edges of the lower arm to control movement of Iconvolutions along said arm for passageunder the tines, and a secondary clicker having a shank pivoted to the ilrst named shank and provided with a plate member having bearing contact on said lower arm for controlling withdrawal of convolutions passing the tines of the primary clicker.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a hair pin hook having an upper arm and a lower arm for impaling a coiled bundle of rods or wire, a primary clicker pivoted to the upper arm and having double contact with the lower arm whereby the primary clicker has alternate engagement with convolutions withdrawn from'said coiled bundle, and a secondary clicker having bearing on said lower arm for controlling withdrawal of convolutions passing the primary clicker.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a hair pin hook having an upper arm and a lower arm for impaling a coiled bundle of rods 

